Testing an atmospheric model's radiative flux sensitivities at the top of the atmosphere
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 - 06:30
in Earth & Climate
For the first time, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory conducted a comprehensive sensitivity study of 16 selected parameters in a popular atmospheric model to analyze their effect on the flux of energy at the top of the atmosphere. They found that cloud parameters—especially the one changing cloud ice to snow—are the primary culprits affecting energy flux among these parameters. They also found that pollution and natural emissions particles affect the atmosphere more at regional than global scales. Their analysis provides evidence that interactions among the selected parameters have little influence on the total mean net radiant flux in most global regions.